I am running a low-mid end CPU and using Windows XP Pro for OS. Having just lost the packaged monitor Ihooked my standby Samsung SyncMaster in place. My plan is to order a LaCie 19blue IV CRT. If I remember correctly, the quality of the video card can often be as important as the monitor. What opinions can the forum members give regarding make/models of video cards? Thanks. Steve

If you don't plan to do much gaming, I would recommend a Matrox video card such as a Matrox P650. It is a good quality card and doen't require a super powerful computer. Or a Matrox G550 will work well too.

Make sure your motherboard doesn't support only 3.3 volt cards. If it is an older board it might not support the newer 1.5 and lower voltage cards. By old I mean over about 4 years or so.

If you get one of the Matrox cards I would highly recommend keeping your old monitor in addition to you new one. Those cards support dual monitors. It is great to have your Photoshop tools on your second monitor and the image you are working on full size on the other. Or to have a tutorial on one screen while working on another. Or to have your reference material on one and Word on the other. You will never go back once you have used dual monitors.

Thanks to both Gospel and slipe. It bothered me when I realized that I really new nothing about video cards. The motherboard is about 1.5 years old yet I'll still research what it can handle. I thought I was going to have a new computer by now yet my priority list changed. Additional investment in a new camera and one/two lenses will come first now that I have decided which camera I will buy. Amazing how much money can be invested in a wonderful hobby!

If your m/b is less than 2 years old, there should be no problem. If you get this card, be sure to get the latest drives from the Matrox site that I listed above. Also apply any Video BIOS (firmware) updates.